Kathmandu Valley Rim
A ring of forested hills encircling the capital — offering day hikes with Himalayan panoramas, ancient temples, and escape from the city below.
Trails
4
Best Season
October-December, March-May
How to Get There
Trailheads accessible by taxi or local bus from Kathmandu: Pharping/Hattiban (south), Godavari (southeast), Nagarkot (east), Dhulikhel (east). Most are 30-60 minutes from the city center.
Permit Information
No permits required for most valley rim trails. Changu Narayan temple has a small entry fee.
The Kathmandu Valley sits in a bowl surrounded by hills ranging from 1,500m to 2,762m, and the trails along this rim offer some of the most accessible and rewarding day hikes in Nepal. From any point on the rim, the views extend across the valley floor to the Himalayan wall beyond — on clear days, peaks from Dhaulagiri to Everest are visible.
The southern rim features Champadevi (2,285m) and Phulchoki (2,762m), famous for its rhododendron forests and birding. The eastern rim connects Nagarkot and Dhulikhel via a classic ridge walk through Tamang and Newar villages. Nearby Namo Buddha offers a culturally rich walk to one of Nepal's most important Buddhist pilgrimage sites.
These trails require no permits (except those within Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park), no guides, and can be reached within an hour of central Kathmandu. They are hugely popular with local hikers on weekends.